Fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus



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l W. NBRACHER. vFIRE EXTINGUIS-HING AND ALARM APPARATUS. No. 261.475. Patented July 18, 18.82.

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FIRE EXTINGUASHING AND ALARM APPARATUS.

No. 261,475.' ,Y Patented July 18, v1882.

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W. NBRAGHVER. .FIRE BXTINGUISHING AND ALARM APPARATUS. No. 261,475.

L Patented July 18, 1882.

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W. NERAOHBR. Y l Y PIRE EXTINGUISHING AND ALARM APPARATUS. No. 261,475. 'Patented Ju1y18,1882;

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r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM NERACHER, OF CLEVELAND, HIO.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND`ALARM APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION Vforming part of Letters Patent No. 261,475, dated July 18, 1882.

' Application filed March 2, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 4it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM NERACHER, of Cleveland,'in'thc county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usematic fire extinguishers having for its objectthe automatic supply of-Water to the building or rooms from any convenient head, the antomatic distribution of the Water uniformly through the rooms or building where the discharge-pipes are located, and the automatic transmission of an alarm of anyordinary alarm apparatus situated in an engine-house or any other distant position to which it may be desirable to send notice of the iire.l Another object is to render the automatic apparatus more sensitive and operative at lower temperatures than the ordinary fusible apparatus heretofore used. In connectionwith these principal objects I have sought to simplify the apparatus and renderit more eective. rIhe apparatus is designed for mills, factories, hotels,

theaters, and other large buildings, though equally applicable to all buildings connected with a water-supply under suitable pressure.

My invention consists, irst',`of a distributing-pipe, or a series of such pipes, located Within the rooms or building, and connected to a water-supply under suitable pressure, with a valve in each distributer-pipe held in a closed position by suitable apparatus, and aplug, stop, or like device fusible hy a given degree of heat in order to release the valve or valves, and an electric circuit connected to the distributer pipe or pipes by suitable means, with battery and line connections with .the distant signal, the said circuit being open when the valves are closed, but automatically closed when the valves are opened, whereby the automatic opening of the valves is made to close the circuit and sound the alarm through any ordinary alarm apparatus, such as are used in enginehouses, 85e.

In the second place my invention consists in connecting with thisline and the described apparatus a valve-in the cellar or basement of a building, closed ordinarily to shut out the ordinarily, but supplied automatically in case of fire, and. the dis-tributer-valves are opened and the alarm sounded simultaneously with the opening of the supply-valve.

My invention consists, in the third place, of a fusible or meltable pluginclosed in'an openbottom boX'or case, the said plug acting, while in a solid condition, to hold the valve or valves in closed position by suitable intermediate mechanism, and to maintain the breaks in the electric circuit, but to release the valves and close the circuit by yielding when melted.

rlhe invention further consists in certain improved detals of construction whereby my apparatus is made simple and effective.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to understand the construction of my apparatus, I now describe the same in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation ot' a branch pipe and its distributer; Fig. 2, a central vertical section through the distributer and its supplypipe; Fig. 3, a top view of the cap-plate, the cup for the-fusible plug, and the connectinglevers; Fig. 4, a modification; Fig. 5, a separate view of the valve-chamber; Fig. 6, a separate view of the valve; Fig. 7,avertical section of the distributer; Fig. 8, a bottom view of the cup for the fusible plug; Fig. 9, a side elevation of the weighted levers and devices for operating the supply-valve; Fig. 10, a top view of the supply-valve chamber with its attachments 5 Fig. l1, an elevation of the latch 38 enlarged, the projection on the .weighted lever being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 12, a front view of the bracket and latch; Fig. 13, a longitudinal section through lthe supply -valve stem; Fig. 14, a diagram showing the arrangement of the pipes and sprinklers and the electrical connections.

It willbe understood primarily that in a mill, factory, hotel, or other large building any number of branch pipes each provided with a sprinkler or distributer may be employed, so as to fully protect every part of the building, all of such pipes being connected to the permanent Watersupply of the building under pressure.

In the drawings, A, Figs. 1 and 14, represents the main water-pipe of a building connected to the street-main, tank, pump, or other water-supply, and having working in a suitable seat a globe-valve, 1, which would ordinarily be placed in the cellar or basementof the huild- B represents one of the brauch pipes counected to the pipe A by any suitable joint, and having an upturned externally screw-threaded end, 2. Connected to this pipe B is the shell or valve-chamber C. (Shown separately in Fig. 5.) It is substantially cylindrical on its exterior, is screw-threaded internally for engagement with the supply-pipe, and has on its outside projecting lugs 3 to hold the pipewrench or other tool used for forcing it down upon the water-pipe. The shell O is slightly reduced in diameter above the shoulder 4, and is pierced with openings 5 -usually four in numberplaced just above a beveled or dat bange,(,whichtbrmsthevalve-seat. 'lheupper end ot' the chamber (.l is internally screwthreaded, as shown.

D, Figs. 2, 3, and 7 is the rotating distributer, which is of peculiar construction. It is preferably a single brass casting consisting of an annular bearing-rin g, 7, having perforations connecting with peculiar curved distributing arms or nozzles 8. There are ordinarily four of these curved arms, and, as shown, two are turned upwardly and two downwardly, the discharge-orifice beingV a narrow nearly-vertical slot, so that water forced through the openings 5 5 into the curved arms revolves the distributer by a twisting or screw pressure, and the water is thrown both upward and downward, toward the ceiling as well as the walls and iioor, escaping from the nozzles in the form of vertical sheets, which are broken by the rotary motion into spray and thoroughly sprinkle the immediate vicinity in all directions. The annular ring 7 is mounted upon the perforated cylindrical end of the valve-chamber resting upon the shoulder 4, and is adapted to revolve freely when water is admitted, as hereinafter described.

The valve, as a whole, is represented by E, and shown separately in Fig. (5. It consists ot' a beveled disk or plate having a facing of rubber secured in place by a washer, 11, and screw 12, and a central stem, 13. The diameter of the disk or plate is such that it slides freely up and down in the valve-chamber, the sides of such chamber between the holes acting as a guide. The valve stem 13 passes through a central opening in a capplate, 14, Fig. 2, which has ascrew-threaded projection, 15, screwing into the upper end of the chamber C, a shoulder, 16, on said cap-plate holding the revolving distributer in place. Accurate vertical movement of the valve is insured by the guide before mentioned, as well as by the action of the stem in the perforated cap. rlhe cap-plate is either secured to or cast integrally with projecting arms 17 18, extending in opposite directions, and at one end of the arm 17 is a cup or box, 19. A lever, 20, is pivoted in ears 21, Fig. 1, otthe capplate, such lever having two arms ot'` unequal length set at an angle, as shown. When the longer arm 22 of the lever is depressed it is made to press by means of an adjustable screw, 23, upon the upper end of the valve-stem, so that while the lever is depressed the valve is forced down tightly upon its seat. 'lhe lever is pressed constantly upward, however, by the free end ot' a leaf-spring, 24, attached to the arm 17, as shown. The tendency of the spring, as well as of the pressure of the water upon the valve, being to throw up the lever and permit the valve to open, an automatically-operated lockin g device is necessary to keep the valve normally closed. For this purpose the cup 19 is fixed on the arm 17 ot` the cap-plate for holding the fusible or meltable stop or plug which holds the locking-levers. It is provided preferably with an inclined or beveled bottom, a grating or series of perforations, and a central opening for the stem of the cap-plate. This cup is designed to contain a plug, F, made ot' spermaceti, paraiine, or similar material fusible at a temperature of about 1200 Fahrenheit. The fusible plug or stop is perforated longitudinally to receive the stem of a plate, 25, adapted to rest upon its upper surface, and having an upward projection, 26. Upon this projection rests the lever end of the latch 27, pivotcd in ears 28 on the arm 17, and provided with a catch, 29. It will now be evident that when the fusible plug is placed in the cup, if the arm 22 of lever 20 is caught by the catch 29 while the latch rests on the projection or stem 26 the lever 20 will be held down upon the valve-stem until the catch is released. The conical or beveled shape of the cup and plugadapts it to resista much greater pressure without crushing thanif the chamber were cylindrical; but when melted the material of the plug may escape through the opening in the bottom.

It should be observed that in practice the cap 14, its arms, the cup, and the standards or ears in which the levers are pivotcd are preferably a single casting.

It will be clear from this description that the melting of the fusible plug by a very moderate degree of heat will release the catch, leave the lever free to rise, and the valve free to be opened by the inflowing water.

rEhe devices thus far described would be operative it' it were intended that the branch pipe A should be allowed to be filled constantly with water, and under some circumstances I may use the device in that form; but in order to prevent liability of freezing or leakage I prefer to exclude the water from the pipe A, and for that purpose have provided the globevalve 1, which may be located in the cellar and shut the water ott' at a point where no danger will occur of leakage or freezing.

1 now describe the means by which not only aforesaid.

thel automatic operation otl theglobe-valve isA accomplished for letting o 'n the Water to the series of pipes, but also an alarm of ire is sentto some station at a distancef-as,ibr instance,

to an en gine-house-it bein g-premised that theoperations just described ot' plaeinglthe dis-j charge-valve v in readinessl to let inthe water.`

into the room, of opening the globe-valve to ladmit the water to the pipes,`and ot' sending the' alarm areaecomplished simultaneously.

Mentionhas been made of the lever 20 as having two armsof unequal length set atl dilierent angles.. Attached to the shorter.v

arm of the lever is an insulatedbinding-post, 30, Which is in electrical connection with ,a battery arranged in any suitable position,and connected withv the post is a platinum electrede, 31. The arm 18 ofthe cap-plate' carries a properly-insulated post, 32, and an electrode, 33, and the post 32 is in electrical connection by wire 34 with the helix of an electro-magnet, G, near the globe-valve 'in the cellar. This magnet is carried in or on a frame, H, secured to a bracket, I, cast with or attached to the side of the pipe A. An armature, 35, is pivoted onv a post, 36, umounted on the frame. It will be understood that each of the series ot' posts 30 on the valve-releasing lever is connected to the main wire leading to line and the helix of the temporary magnet In order that any one ot' the branches may open the main 4supply-valve in the cellar or basement and sound the distant alarm, I connect each insulated binding-post 32 opposite the levers with the battery by asingle wire running through each. Th'is is shown in the diagram Fig. 14, in which A represents the main and B the branch pipes. The binding-posts 30 upon the levers are all connected by a'wire, 70, to thev line Z, and the posts 32 are all connected by a wire, 71, with the battery. The main-line wire continues through the helix to suitable sounding'apparatus at the engine-house or other distant station. Lin'e and battery are properly grounded to complete the circuit. It will be apparent that whatever plug melt and lever be released its own sprinkler will be set in motion, and connection be made both with the magnet which operates the supply-valve mechanism (hereinafter more fully described) and also with the distant signal apparatus. This temporary magnet Gr, near the-supply-valve, is provided with an armature, 35, mounted upon an arm, 37,whieh extends out to engage with alatch,'38, pivoted'in the upper end of the vertical slot 39 in the bracket l, and to holdA such latch in a vertical position, unless the armature is drawn up by the magnet, when the arm 37 will drop, releasing the latch. The latch is provided with a projection, 40, which engages with the `jointed and weighted lever J, connected with the globe-valve at the junction of the pipe A and the water-main.

To the cap K, which elosesthe valve-cham-l ber and contains a stuffing-box for the valvestem, are rml y screwed or otherwise secured (or ,they may be cast therewith) projecting brackets L L', connected andy braced by cross- ,piece 41, whichV forms a bearing or guide for the rvalve-stem 42.

Each of' the brackets L L has a cam-slot, 43, inclined in opposite directions. The weighted lever J is composed of two parts, 44 45, hinged together, as shown, and the part 44 is provided with a heavy Weight, M, and with a beveledend, 46, which is caught and held in an elevated position by the part 40 of the latch 38.' Somemovementis permitted at t-hejoint, so as to allow the weight to fall a short distance beforethe part of the lever moving first brings up against the should-er 72 on the other part, in order to permit the weight to acquire some momentum to start the lever in the slots. By means of this a lighter weight may be used.

The part 45 of the lever J is provided with anti-friction vrollers 47., Figs. l0 and 13, which travel in the slots in the brackets L L. The lever 45 is mounted on the valvestemv 42, so as to move 'in substantially vertical plane, and it is therefore evident that bythe dropping of the weighted lever the valve-stem will receive a longitudinal 4movement in its bearings, due to the incline ot' the slots, and will open the valve toadmit the water from the main to the pipe A. The stem of the valve is madein two parts, the outer part (marked y) being turned ldown to Vfit the hole in the lever and screwed into the other part of the stem xed to the valve. This two-part construction is necessary in order to put the parts together, and very conveniently holds the lever in the turneddown position, whereby the movement of the said lever on the inclines of the slots moves the valve. v

Manifestly the attraction of the armature by the magnet will depress the arm 37 and will release the latch 3S, so that the weight is free to drop and move the valve to admit the water to the distributing-pipes. In order to preventthe pressure ot the water in the main from starting the valveby reason of the inclined slots and the freedom from friction caused by the rollers, the ends of the slots are made straight, as shown at 48, so that the rollers have a square bearing, when in normal or closed position, at both ends ofthe slots, making it impossible for any pressure against the valve to start it when open or closed. The globe-valve and seat are ot' the ordinary or any convenient construction. f

In Fig. 4 is shown a moditied form of capplate and cup for the fusible plug or stop. The latter is simply a square cup having an open bottom and a ange to'hold the plug, and a latpivoted plate to rest on such plug, and a catch to hold the lever 20 down. This device may in some cases be preferable, as the fusible material is more fully exposed to the heat than in the cup before described.

In case theglobevalve should be dispensed with and water admitted directly to thebranch pipe,'the spring 24 might be unnecessary, as

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the water-pressure would force up the valveplunger when the catch 29 was released by the fusing ot' the plug.

Supposin g the apparatus as hereinbefore described to be placed within a building. The main pipe runs from the supply-pipe in the basement or cellar or other point where such supply may enter the building. The branch or distributing pipes are arranged as near each other as may be found convenient, varying in this respect somewhat, according to the nature of the building or its contents. The wire con nects one set of binding-posts with each other and with the battery properly connected t0 earth, and another wire connects the other set of posts (all insulated) to the main line, extending to the distant alarm, and including the helix of the temporary magnet which operates the globe-valve. Fire breaking out in the vicinity of any one ot' the branch pipes or its distributing apparatus melts, when only a little above summer heat, the fusible plug or stop, which, running ont in liquid state, lets the catchlever drop and releases the valvelever and valve. At the same time the short end of lever 20 touches the contact-point of the opposite binding-post and closes the circuit. This causes the temporary magnet to release the weight and open the supply-valve, and sends a current to the signal-station, wherever it may be.

By means of the stop or plug of paraftne, wax, or the like, used in connection with the cap, and acting as a resistance, stop, or dog while solid, a very sensitive apparatus is provided, operating at comparatively low temperature, and adapted to indicate and to extinguish a re at its earliest stages. The peculiar distributer uniformly di'uses the water let on in a better manner than any heretofore known to me.

It has heretofore been suggested to connect an alarm and water-supply by means of a wire connected bymeans of easily fusible solder, which wire, disconnected by the heat, was to break the circuit, and thereby sound an alarm. This would require solder to hold the wire together, and would not operate with ordinary alarms, by reason of breaking instead ot closing the circuit. In my apparatus the Wire may be connected to any ordinary alarm apparatus. The melting-point of solder, which is required whenever the wires or other parts are to be held together with considerable strength, is so high that it cannot be melted until the re has come into close proximity and made considerable headway; but the wax or parane melts at low temperature, and by my plan no great amount ot' cohesive force is required.

llainly the fusible stop may be used with an alarm apparatus alone or with extinguishing apparatus alone.

I am aware that an automatic lire-extinguisher having a perforated Celluloid plate placed in a covered frame, said plate supporting a rod and weighted lever which holds the valve ot' a water-supply, and releases it when the plate is burned, so as to admit the water, is not new, and I limit my claims to a fusible or meltable plug as a resistance and support in said line at the valve-holding mechanisms, the said break being closed when the stop is l melted and the valve freed.

2. 1n an apparatus for automatically letting on water or giving alarm, a releasing apparatus consisting ot' a fusible plug or body held in a case,and acting asa resistance while solid, but yielding when melted, said plug operating in connection with suitable lever or equivalent mechanism, substantially as dcscribed.

3. 1n a tire alarm or extinguishing apparatus, a fusible stop or dog ot' wax or like material, included in a box or case, and serving, while solid, to dog or stop the releasing mechanism of the alarm or water-supply, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the distributer, the valve-chamber, and valve, of the cup 19, the fusible plug, and the levers 27 20.

5. The combination of the distributer and its valve with the independent cup 19, the pivoted catch 27, the lever 20, and the spring 24.

6. The revolving distributer D, having the curved nozzles inclined upward and downward, as shown, and having the flat dischargeorifices.

7. The combination of the valve-chamber B, the valve E and its stem, the perforated capplate 14, having the cup 19 and carrying the lever 20, and adjusting-screw 23.

8. The cup 19, having the perforated hottom, in combination with a fusible plug, -a plate, 25, and a lever or levers connected with the valve of the distributer.

9. In combination with the distributer of a fire-extinguisher, a valve adapted to shut ott the water from said distributer,and means for automatically raising said valve when released, a lever adapted to hold such valve in a closed position, a fusible or meltable plug ranged as specified, whereby the melting of i the plug releases the valve and closes the circui t, substantially as described.

` A10. The combination of the valve 1 audits 1 stemgthe pivoted lever J, and the cam-grooved brackets L L'. 11. The valve 1 and its stem, in combinalfs tion with thepivoted lever J and the camgrooved brackets L L', having straight ends. i" 12. The combination of the supp1y-valve,the

standardv having-inclined grooves, the crossbar, the two-part spindle, andthe Weighted Io lever.

13. In combination withthe supply-valve, l the weighted lever connected therewith and adaptedto open the same by falling, the stopeclfn'" lever adapted to hold up the Weighted lever while the valve is closed, a temporary magnet, 1 5 and electrical con nections to the battery adapt- 'ed to remove said.L stop-lever and allow the Vscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM NERACHER.

Witnesses:

F. L. MIDDLETON, DAVID H. MEAD. l 

